Chair Designate announced ahead of potential merger

Watford Community Housing has announced the appointment of Hattie Llewelyn-Davies as Chair Designate of its Group Board. Following the announcement in September of talks between Thrive Homes and Watford Community Housing over a potential merger, Llewelyn-Davies also becomes Chair Designate for the proposed new organisation.

The partnership between Thrive Homes and Watford Community Housing would create a new customer-focused Community Gateway housing association, to strengthen services for more than 12,000 households and provide new homes to meet the growing demand for social housing. Both organisations are consulting residents over the proposal.

Llewelyn-Davies is already Chair of another Community Gateway association, Eastlight Community Homes, and played a key role in its formation through a merger between Colne Housing and Greenfields Community Housing. She will join Watford Community Housing as Chair in April 2026, succeeding Chris Cheshire, who will step down after more than nine years on Watford Community Housing’s Group Board.

Hattie Llewelyn-Davies said: “I am thrilled to be joining Watford Community Housing and proud to have been appointed as Chair Designate for the proposed new organisation. I am fully focused on driving improvements for residents, and the partnership has the potential to deliver better services for existing customers of both Thrive Homes and Watford Community Housing.”

Tina Barnard, Chief Executive of Watford Community Housing, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Hattie to Watford Community Housing, and as Chair Designate for our proposed partnership with Thrive Homes. She brings a wealth of experience and a comprehensive understanding of the Community Gateway ethos, which underpins our work.” 

Boards of both housing associations have approved an outline business case for the proposed merger, which aims to improve services for residents by combining resources, expertise and operational capacity, to better serve communities and address the growing demand for high-quality social housing. If approved, the formal partnership could be in place by June 2026.

Further information about the proposal, including detailed FAQs for residents, can be found here.